Travis Fedschun/The Jersey JournalCherre Ogden and Erma Greene of Jersey City look at a ward election map at the Jersey City chapter of the NAACP's "100 Day Countdown to Rock the Vote Rally" as seen on Saturday, July 28, 2012. Travis Fedschun/The Jersey Journal

With the 2012 presidential election just 100 days away, the Jersey City branch of the NAACP embarked this afternoon on a voter registration drive with a lofty goal to meet by November.

In just 15 minutes, five people were already signed up in the group’s headquarters at 153 Martin Luther King Dr. shortly after 1 p.m.

That number -- while small -- might go a long way towards the goal set by Calvin Hart, the branch's president.

Hart said he would like to see “around 5,000” new registered voters by November, as he hopes to get young first-time voters in addition to older ones that may not be involved in the political process to have a voice.

“It’s all about if you don’t know what’s going on, then you’re left out,” he said.

The branch had representatives out on Kennedy Boulevard with a table to get people to sign up, and is planning further outreach efforts to young first-time voters who did not cast a ballot in previous elections.

After registration, the next step is classes sponsored by the Jersey City branch is to educate new voters on everything from local elections to those on the federal level.

Those who register are asked to take four, 90-minute classes on Wednesday and Sundays that provide information on each level of government for those who may not know or be confused, according to Hart.

“We really want people to be able to understand the whole process,” he said.

The classes are expected to begin this Wednesday, August 1 and continue through November in one or two locations Jersey City that are still being determined.

Since June, Hart said the branch has registered about 400 new voters, and with just 79 days to go until the deadline to register to vote on Oct. 16, every single person helps to reach the goal.

“I know I’ve just got 79 days, but I’d love to do that,” he said.

For more information on how to register to vote or the classes, call (201) 333-3697.